Shanghai Warrior

Starting this as a place for general observations and discussion about seeding and health and matchups, we never have this kind of thread but especially as someone who doesn't usually follow the NL too much, I feel like I'd learn a lot if people were into it...

Michael Pineda's immediate suspension puts a big dent in an already hurting Twins rotation, they should still win the Central and an ALDS matchup with the loser of the HOU/NYY home-field race (HOU wins a tie from the 4-3 season series).

Javy Baez with a fractured thumb, status questionable for the rest of the season, Kluber and Aaron Hicks are also looking unlikely to come back after recovery setbacks.

Also who knew that the Braves were 17-2 in their last 19 and only 2 losses behind LAD for the #1 NL seed if the Dodgers can't come back yet again at home (down 1-0 after 8 to SF currently).

Tyler Glasnow is back for TB tomorrow for a few innings, he is as unhittable as anyone if he is healthy. Blake Snell started the AAA playoff game for Durham tonight, two Ks, two singles, two walks, 24 pitches and 2 outs before he was pulled.

Severino got up to 50 pitches in the game before and 5 more after, NY is deciding to bring him back for DET this week or give him one more AA playoff start to build pitch count and strength. Betances is getting two more AA games, they start the championship series on Tuesday so he could be back in about a week.

Anyway, follow up on those or anything else, three weeks before the coin flip games and the shitty national telecasts begin.

Member

I think the only things left to determine in the AL are home field/matchups. The Indians just don't have the healthy talent or offense to keep up anymore. Ownership handed them Carlos Gonzalez as their biggest free agent bat in the offseason, and 36% of their games have been started by guys who were never supposed to be in the rotation. They alternate good/bad opponents the rest of the way, so I don't see them being more than a .500 team from here on out, and splitting their 4-game series with the White Sox last week was a backbreaker. Kluber seems doubtful, which would leave bench guys like Bradley Zimmer and Bobby Bradley as the only reinforcements yet to come. Oakland has a tough 4 game series in Houston this week, but the remainder of their schedule is much easier than Tampa Bay and Cleveland. The Rays are about to play 8 games outside their time zone, which I suppose could keep Cleveland hanging around a little bit longer.

Agree with VORP, the Astros and Yankees have no real motivation to play for the top seed since they're better off playing the Twins than the winner of the Rays/A's game.

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as discussed a bit last night, the Astros seem like a very poor matchup for the A's, whereas they held their own and then some against the Yanks. the A's should be rooting for the Yanks down the stretch here, although I'm sure they'll be laser focused on finally winning the WC game first.

has big, douchey shoulders

as discussed a bit last night, the Astros seem like a very poor matchup for the A's, whereas they held their own and then some against the Yanks. the A's should be rooting for the Yanks down the stretch here, although I'm sure they'll be laser focused on finally winning the WC game first.

Member

The A's and Rays win easily, picking up a ½ game on the Indians who were rained out in the 3rd inning on Friday. This could end up being good news for the Indians though since the Twins just wasted their most effective starter (Odorizzi) on two innings that didn't count for anything. They don't have five starters right now and Saturday's bullpen game just became two bullpen games, as they'll play at 1:10 and 7:10.

lurker

Too early to rule out the Tribe; especially when they have the same amount of losses as the Rays do right now (61). And Oakland has 60 losses. I will agree that the WCG is likely to be Tampa @ Oakland.

What would help out Cleveland would be if the Nats don't Nats and have the WC1 spot sealed up by the final weekend.

Shanghai Warrior

Huge win for the Twins in the first game today, 2-0 with a bullpen game to beat Clevinger. Now even if CLE takes the next two, MIN has a 3 game lead in the loss column going into the final two weeks, CLE needed to sweep the weekend to make a run at the division.

Member

This could be the day where the final nails are put in Cleveland's coffin. They immediately fell behind 2-0 in the second game of the double-header, but then Lewis Thorpe couldn't find the strike zone. Cleveland's first 5 batters of the game reached and Plawecki narrowly missed a grand slam. Instead, they squandered a bases-loaded, nobody out situation and despite Thorpe throwing 41 pitches, settle for tying it 2-2.

It's hard to believe that the Indians with all the injuries and poor performances this year will most likely win more games than last year's uninspired division winner (91), but their odds of making the playoffs are now well under 50%.

Member

Oakland and Tampa Bay both win. Cleveland not putting up 10+ tonight was inexcusable... Thorpe had no business surviving 3+ innings. Congrats to the Twins, A's and Rays on making the playoffs!

I've got tickets to two concerts this week and didn't want to have to keep getting up for work on short sleep, so I also planned a two-day trip and will just take the week off... at least it will be nice to enjoy it without giving a damn what the Indians are doing.

Shanghai Warrior

Oakland and Tampa Bay both win. Cleveland not putting up 10+ tonight was inexcusable... Thorpe had no business surviving 3+ innings. Congrats to the Twins, A's and Rays on making the playoffs!

I've got tickets to two concerts this week and didn't want to have to keep getting up for work on short sleep, so I also planned a two-day trip and will just take the week off... at least it will be nice to enjoy it without giving a damn what the Indians are doing.

On the bright side, Karinchak looks like he could be a serious impact reliever. The inning I saw tonight he looked like a young Joba or Betances and he had 74 Ks in 30.1 minor league innings, that has to be the highest K/9 I have ever seen.

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